Duxbury approves oral-pouch ban across student handbooks
The School Committee unanimously approved adding oral pouches to the district Code of Conduct in all four student handbooks.
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Saturday, October 24, 2026
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Latest Massachusetts stories
Natick committee approved Superintendent Bash’s next contract
The School Committee unanimously approved Superintendent Bash’s successor contract, with the redline changes presented at its September 28 meeting. The chair described it as her next contract and said the district would have her “for a long time,” though the captions do not give its term or the specific changes.
District proposes its first rules for AI in school
A new artificial intelligence policy, IJNDE, had its first reading on September 23, 2026. It would let teachers decide when students may use AI, require students to say when they used it and check that what it produced is true, and treat unapproved use as cheating. Staff and students could only use tools the district has approved, and no personal information about students could be typed into them.
Weston committee considers updating policy on federal immigration enforcement
At its September 14 meeting, the Weston School Committee was scheduled to consider amendments to existing Policy ACH, “Response to Federal Immigration Enforcement Activity,” to address requirements enacted under the Massachusetts PROTECT Act. The agenda marked the item “vote anticipated,” so this is a proposed policy change rather than a confirmed adoption.
Building Committee to finalize warrant article for MSBA Module 4 feasibility funding request
The September 10, 2026 School Building Committee agenda schedules a vote to review and finalize draft warrant language requesting feasibility funding through MSBA Module 4, to be submitted to the Select Board for the fall Town Meeting warrant.
Enrolment falls again, by 86 students in a year
The superintendent reported district enrolment of 2,642 at the start of the 2026-27 year, down from 2,728 a year earlier and 2,710 on October 1, 2025.
New rule bars civil arrests on school grounds
Duxbury adopted policy ACL after Governor Healey signed the PROTECT Act on August 5, 2026. Except where state or federal law requires it, civil arrests — including federal immigration enforcement — are not allowed in non-public areas of school grounds while schools are operating. The superintendent put it in place before school started under her emergency authority, and the School Committee ratified it on September 9, 2026.
Alden School rebuild moves to its design study
Town voters funded a $1,750,000 feasibility study for Alden School at the March 14, 2026 town meeting, and the district spent the summer choosing a manager for the project. Eight firms bid, three were interviewed, and the district sent its choice to the state building authority on September 9, 2026 for a decision on October 5.
School Committee to vote on five-year lease for five additional school buses
A special School Committee meeting agenda for September 4, 2026 scheduled discussion and an anticipated vote on a proposed five-year lease for five school buses to meet current operational transportation needs, alongside a broader transportation fleet review.
More from the news desk
$30M school bus contract up for renewal
The Legislative & Contracts Subcommittee's August 19, 2026 agenda lists a recommendation to renew the district's school bus transportation contract for $30,000,000, alongside more than a dozen other contracts totaling well over $40 million more, including special-education transportation, out-of-district special-education tuition, and curriculum materials.
Educational Model report narrows Dedham's school-facility choices
The Rennie Center evaluated ten grade-configuration and facilities scenarios and recommended advancing three options that would move elementary students into better buildings while balancing time and cost.
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District
Final student-rights handbook and attendance rules reached approval
After May review of academic-integrity and attendance changes and June review of a draft student-rights handbook, the August 13 agenda scheduled approval of the final handbook and revised attendance procedure.
Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical
Student-handbook updates were scheduled for review
The August 13 subcommittee notice scheduled discussion of student-handbook updates for school year 2026-27.
District weighs weapon-detection units a year after a 2025 safety incident
On September 3, 2025, something happened at a school during drop-off or pickup that worried the School Committee. They brought back their Safety Subcommittee and asked police, transportation staff, and parents to review safety rules. In October 2025, the district started meeting monthly with Lowell Police and Fire on safety. On August 11, 2026, district safety staff talked about buying portable weapon-detection units, like ones used at Lawrence High School. Two or three units would cost about $40,000 to $60,000. No decision has been made yet; the subcommittee wants more safety data first.
Committee scheduled a vote on student restraint and seclusion rules
The August 10 agenda scheduled a second reading and expected vote on policy governing time-out, seclusion, and physical restraint of students.
Stephen Zadravec began serving as Amesbury superintendent
After a public search and finalist-interview process, the August School Committee agenda identifies Stephen Zadravec as superintendent.
Student restraint policy reached a scheduled action item
After a June first reading, the August 4 agenda listed policy JKAA for discussion, adoption, or rejection.
District is developing student screen-use guidance
After analyzing student screen use during the spring, the administration planned an August update on guidance for appropriate technology use and monitoring screen time. The collected agenda does not establish a final policy.
Building committee discloses $172M maintenance baseline as HS/MS project heads to fall Town Meeting vote
At the August 4 retreat, the Committee reviewed a Module 1 decision presentation showing a $172 million baseline cost to bring the existing high school/middle school buildings up to code without changing their physical configuration (excluding pool, field house, and grounds garage). The Committee discussed pursuing a feasibility-study funding request at a fall Special Town Meeting, noting that a 'yes' vote only funds the study (roughly 33% MSBA-reimbursable), not construction, and that failure to secure funding would remove the district from the MSBA program and forfeit reimbursement eligibility.
Superintendent flags bus safety risk from town mechanic shortage, seeks alternative maintenance
At the August 4, 2026 retreat, Superintendent Zaleski told the Committee that two of three town mechanic positions have been vacant for a considerable time, and that a school bus recently broke down on the highway while another suffered brake failure. The Committee voted unanimously to authorize the Superintendent to initiate a competitive process to secure an outside transportation maintenance agreement to ensure student safety.
Building committee selected a preferred design for the new high school
The district reported that the building committee selected design C2.2A as the singular preferred schematic and submitted it to the MSBA on June 25.
District announces intent to execute Ameresco performance contract
The August 3 agenda announced the district’s intent to execute an energy performance contract with Ameresco under Massachusetts procurement law.
Committee scheduled a vote on a revised school-budget amount
After late-July budget meetings with town officials, the committee scheduled an August 3 vote on a new budget amount.
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